Gas generator



c. LliucHu GAS GENERATOR I Nov. 27 1923. 1,475,496

Filed Aug. 15. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 2'7, 1923 c. Liiucl-lu GAS GENERATOR Filed Aug. 15, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov, 27, 1923,

raises CARL LAUCI'ILI, OF DUBENDORET, NEAR ZURICH, SJTITZEELAND, ASS IGNOR TO THE FIRM CONTINENTALLI HT- U191) .APPAHATBEAU-GILSELLSCHAFT, OF FRANKFURT- ON-THE-IVZAIN, GERMANY.

GAS GENERATOR.

Application filed August 15, 1921. Serial No. 492,405.

(GRANTED UNDER THE rnovrsrons or ran Aer or MARCH 3, 1921, 41' swam in, 1313.)

T0 cilia/ 10m it may concern Be it known that 1', CARL LSUCHLI, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, residing at Dubendorif, near Zurich, Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Iniprovements in Gas Generators (for which I have filed applications in Switzerland May 15, 1920, Patent No. 88153; in Fiwitzerland August 5, 1920, Patent No. 89369; in France lilay 1 1, 1921, application No. 14 1693; in

taly May 14, 1921, application No. 302/1837; in Belgium May 14, 1921, application No. 23707 1; in Sweden May 17. 192 application No. 2010/21; in Austria May 19, 1921, not yet numbered; in Denmark May 21, 1921, application No. 13416/21;'in Norway June 2, 1921, application No. 24126/21; in Hungary June 2. 1921, application No. 12111; in England July. 18, 1921, application No. 19366; in Holland, application number and date not yet known; in Germany May 6, 1921, application No. 30589); and I do hereby declare the following to be clear, full, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appert'ains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompany-- ing drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which, form a part of this specification. 7

This invention relates to improvements in gas generators and particularly to a device for automatic pressure regulation in acetylene high pressure generators of the type in which the fluctuations of the pressure in a container caused by changes in the consumption of gas are utilized for regulating the generation of gas by influencing the access of the water to the calcium carbide. 7

According to the invention the gas produced escapes below a bell which forms part of a floating device arranged in the liquid ofa gas container. The device alters its elevation in the liquid upon an alteration of the gas pressure inside the gas container,

,so that the thereby caused variation of the hydrostatic pressure at the lower edge of the bell, which pressure the gas has to overcome on flowing into the container, influences the level of the l qu d in the producer proper.

The float may be constructed as an 'enclosed hollow body. Its volume and therefore its displacement varies with the variation of the gas pressure and water pressure in the gas container, so that the'enclosed body 18 expanded when said pressure decreases and rises in the liquid and said body 7 is compressed upon an increase in saidpressure andsinks down in the liquid of the container. 7 7

On the accompanying drawings two constructional forms of the einbodiment'of'the invention are shown by way of'exarnple, in

which drawings: 7

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a"high pressure gas generator, with parts shown in elevation,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section throughthe floating device with its parts inthe operative position at thebeginning of the gas production,

Fig. 3 illustrates a detail of the gas hell on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section with parts shown in elevation through a. high pressure gas generator of the same type as that shown in Fig. 1 but providedwitha modified conerator which is filled up to a certain height with water 2. The space 3 above the water level serves as gas reservoir. Inside the container 1 another container 1 is provided which is the gas producer proper and serves for holding the carbide 5.. The container. 9

dis closed at its upper end by means of a cover 6, the lower end'is left open to give the water accessto the carbide. A grate? provided inside the container 1 prevents the 4 in an upward direction, so that upon removal of the, cover 6 a shaking of the carbide is rendered possible in order to separate the refuse, that is formed by the action of the water on the carbide from the pieces of carbide. Thelower part of the container is surrounded by a closed receptacle 9 the upper end of which is connected in an airtight manner to container 4: and the lower portion of which that projects beyond the container 1 is hermetically connected to the latter. A cock 10 is provided in the lowermost part of receptacle 9 for the purpose of drawing oil the slimy refuse during the workingot the gas generator. A cover 11 is provided for permitting of a thorough cleaning of the re eptacle 9. The latter is connected by ineans oi a conduit 12 with the water space 2 of the receptacle 1. A cock 18 is inserted in said conduit 12, which cock is actuated by means of a rod 1% and a hand lever 15; the latter is so arranged that in its position corresponding to the open position of the cock 1.3 it projects be yond the edge of the cover 6, whereby the latter can only be removed after the cock 13 has been closed. The gas generated in the receptacle 4: is led through a conduit 16 to the receptacle 1. the conduit 16 ending inside a bell 17. This gas bell 17 is de signed as a floating boc y the'lateral walls of which consist of two concentrically arranged cylinders. The outer cylinder of the lowermost part 18 of the gas bell 17 is of a greater diameter than the upper part; in its top part the bell is completely closed and in its lower part the annular portion between the two cylinders is closed. The inner cylinder of the gas bell is provided with a small aperture 20 near the upper end of the enlarged portion and the outer cylinder is provided with a small aperture 22 near the lower end of said enlarged portion. The gas bell 17 is adapted to move freely within a cylinder 23 the inside diameter of which is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the upper part of said bell. The cylinder 28 is at certain points of its circumference connected to an annular floating body 2st concentrically arranged with respect to said cylinder. The float 24 is closed at its upper end and open at its lower end. The cylinder 23 is closed at its upper end, and near its closed end a hole 25 is provided through which gas which has collected between the bell 17 and the cylinder 23 can. escape into the gas space of the container 3. To the lower end of the cylinder 23 stops 26 are fixed that limit the downward movement of the gas bell 17 when the whole floating device is in its lowermost position it is supported by said stops 26 resting on awrence the floor of the container 1. Another stop 27 is provided inside the container 1 against which the cylinder 23 abuts when the floating device is in its uppermost position. A conduit 28 serves to draw off the gas generated. 29 denotes a safety valve with which the producer 4 is provided.

The manner or" operation of theahove described gas generator is as follows:

Fig. 1 illustrates the upper position of the floating device. The gas bell 17 is also shown in its uppermost position abutting against the upper end of the cylinder 23 and it shall be assumed for the following explanation that the gas bell remains in this position. In this upper position the water level in the interior of the float 2 1 will adjust itself to such a height and the gas above said level inside the float 24 will be compressed to such a degree that its pressure corresponds to the gas pressure in the gas space 3 plus a hydrostatic pressure that is equal to the difference in the liquid levels of. container 1 and float 24, The volume oi the float 24 and the weight 01 the whole floating device is so dimensioned that at the above pressure the gas inside the float 24 takes up such a volume that the weight of a corresponding volume of water is greater than the weight of all the parts of the floating device. In this upper position of the latter the gas generated in the pro ducer ehas to overcome a back-pressure that is equal to the hydrostatic pressure at the bell 17. In this upper position of the float-' ing device'the greatest production of gas takes place.

If now for any reasons the consumption of gas diminishes the gas pressure in the gas reservoir 3 will be increased. This higher pressure causes a compression of the gas volume inside the float 24, its displacement becomes smaller and the whole device will sink rapidly'until it rests by means of the stops 26 on the floor of the container 1. Thereby the hydrostatic pressure at the lower edge of the gas bell 17 increases rapidly and a further flow of the gases pro duced past the lower edge of the gas bell into the container is at once prevented. The gas generated in the producer causes a rise of pressure in the latter by which the water is forced out of said producer until its level is below the carbide, whereupon any further production of '1 .ses.

Upon more being eonsun'ied the pres sure in the gas res rvoir F3 or. the container drops, the gas volume i "do the float 2% enpands and the greater displacement causes a movement of the whole floating device into its upper position; the liquid leveloi' the producer 4 rises to .vhereby gas is again generated; the pressure of the gas in the container l is thus automatically regulated. By adjusting the weights of the parts of the floating device the sensitiveness of this regulating device can be varied at will.

In working such gas generating plants the water has to be renewed fromv time to time. Thereby it happens that more or less air enters the interior of the float 24 for instance by diiiusion. It now the apparatus be set to work again the regulation, the weights of which have been adjusted for a float 2 1 containing gas, will no longer work with the ame sensitiveness. In order to prevent this drawback the gas bell is arranged as a float and is provided with the apertures and 22. The operation of the bell when filling the container 1 is as follows Through the opening 20 gas may escape and water enters into the interior of the bell 17. The latter is so dimensioned that upon this decrease of the displacement the bell the air contained therein. At the same time cumterance.

gas will enter into the interior of the bell 17 through the aperture 20 and vwill. at first displace the air inside said bell and thereafter the water. The bell 17 will thereupon rise into its upper position and remain in this upper position during the working of the device. In this position of the bell 17 the gas produced rises in the annular space between the float 24.- and the bell 17 In the second constructional example illustrated in Figs. 4 6 the float consists essentially of two circular membranes 30 and 31, the edges of which are inclined towards each other and welded together at 32, so that a hollow disc is formed. The interior of this float may be connected to the surrounding atmosphere or to a pressure device by means of a radially arranged cock 33. A vertically arranged pipe 34- closed at .its upper end and serving at the same time as a guide and a gas hell passes diametrically into the disc floatup to near its cir- The pipe 34 has a slightly larger inside diameter than the outside dianieter of the pipe 16 which serves to conduct the generated gas from the producer 4- to the container 1.

The above described float works as follows:

In Fig. 4 thefloat 'filled'with compressed r of 0.2-0.3atm. surplus pressure is illustrated in its upper position, in which it abuts against a stop 27 which limits its movement in the upward direction. In thi position the displaceinent volume of the .aoat consisting ot the two membranes will adjust itself in accordance with the pressure of the gas in tne reservoir 3. The volume of the float and its weight are so dimensioned, that at a desired pressure of the gas in the container the weight 01 the volume of water displaced by the float is greater than the weight of the latter.

With thefloa't in the upper position shown in Fig. 4 the gas generated in the producer 4.- has to overcome a back pressurethat is equal to the hydrostatic pressure present at the lower edge of the pipe 34% acting as gas.

bell, as has been described in the first constructional example. The water level in the interior of the'producer t adjusts itself to approximately the height of the lower edge of the pipe 34 and the maximum production'of gas takes place. Upon a rise of the pressure or". the gas in the container 1 owing to a smaller consumption of gas the membranes of the float are pressed against each other, the displacement of the float becomes smaller, the float sinks and the generating of gas is stopped as has been described; upon a decrease in the gas pressure inside the container 1 the float rises and gas is generated again. This float. present the advantage that the air contained in it is completely enclosed so that no loss of air occurs and the float will therefore be continuously effective.

I claim: V 1. An acetylene high-pressure generator, comprising a closed container having a water space and a space above said water 5; ace serving as a reservoir for the gas generated, a gas producer adapted to contain carbide in its upper part and to contain water in its lower part, a gas bell ar ranged in the water space in said container and adapted to alter its elevation in dependency upon the variations of the pressure of the gas in said reservoir, anda conduit for the gas" from the producerto saidcontainer ending below said bell whereby the height oi" the water level in said producer depends on the hydrostatic head at the lower edge of said bell.

2. An acetylene high-pressure generator, comprising closed container having a water space and a space above the water serving as a reservoir for the gas generated, a gas producer consisting of a completely closed receptacle and adapted toreceive the carbide in its upper part and water in its lower part, a conduit connecting the water space of said container to the water space of said producer, a gas bell in the water space in said container and adapted to alter its elevation in said liquid in dependency upon the v. riations 'ot the pressure of the gas in said reservoir. and a conduit for tie gas from said producer to said container ending below said bell whereby the height of the water level in said producer depends on the hydrostatic head at the lower edge of said bell.

3. An acetylene high-pressure generator, comprising a closed container having a water space and a space above the water space serving as a reservoir for the gas generated, a gas producer consisting of a completely closed receptacle arranged for the greater part inside said container and adapted to receive carbide in its upper part and water in its lower part, a conduit connecting; the water space of said container to the water space of said producer, a gas bell combined with a float and placed in. the water space in said container and adapted to alter its elevation in said liquid in dependencyupon the variations of the pressure of the gas in said reservoir, and a conduit for the gas from said producer to.

said container ending; below said bell whereby the height oi? the water level in said producer depends on the hydrostatic head at the lower edge of said bell. I

4:. An acetylene high-pressure generator, comprising a closed container having a water space and a space above the water space serving as a reservoirfor the gas generated, a gas producer consisting of a completely closed receptacle arranged for the greater part inside said container and nae/aces adapted to receive the carbide in its upper part and water in its lower part, a conduit connecting the water space or said container to the water space of said producer, a gas hell rigidly iiXed to a tioat consisting of a closed hollow body in the. water space in said container and adapted to alter its e1eration in the water upon the displacement volume of as d tloat being altered in dependency upon the variations of the pressure of the gas in said reservoir, and a conduit for the gas from said producer to said container ending below said bell whereby the height or" the water level in said producer depends on the hydrostatic head at the lower edge of said hell.

5. An acetylene high-pressure generator, comprising a closed container having a water space and a space above said water space serving as a re 'ervoir for the gas generated, a gas producer consisting of a completely closed receptacle arranged for the greater part inside said container and adapted to receive carbide in its upper part and water in. its lower part, a conduit connecting}; the water space of said container to the water space of said producer, a gas bell rigidly fixed to a float consisting of two circular membranes connected together to form a closed hollow body in the water space in said container and adapted to alter its elevation in the water in said water space upon the displacement volume of said float being altered in dependency upon the variations of the pressure of the gas in said reservoir. and a conduit for the gas from said producer to said container ending below said bell whereby the height of the water level in said producer depends on the hydrostatic head at the lower edge of said bell. V CARL LAUCHLI. 

